Posted by:
WK
at Sat Oct 11 12:05:20 2003 [ Email Message ] [ Show All Posts by WK ]
do puff adders cause your blood to stop clotting, and your entire right side of your body turn to a bruise from the internal bleeding?...i know quite a few who were reportedly bitten by them in Zambia, and had nothing like that.
The inability to clot effectively and the bruising may have been due to something other than the direct effect of the venom. Damaged tissue releases a substance called "tissue factor" that initiates clotting of blood. Bacteria can also release substances that do this. This means that tissue damage (like that seen following a bite by a gaboon or puff) or infection / sepsis can result in activation of the clotting cascade. If this is prolonged, the raw materials for forming clots are depleted and the ability to form clots is lost. This increases the risk of hemorrhage (bruising is visible evidence of hemorrhage into superficial tissue). Venom can also initiate this process, but the fact that these problems developed several days following the bite makes me thing infection / worsening tissue damage were likely contributing to the clotting problems.
I am glad you survived intact. What were your symptoms when you first presented to a doctor? I’m curious as to why antivenom administration was delayed?
Regards,
WK
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RE: any other gaboon viper bite survivors out there? - WK, Sat Oct 11 12:05:20 2003